In a world obsessed with trends, algorithms, and chasing what’s “hot,” it’s easy for artists to feel the pressure to mold themselves into something more marketable, more palatable—more like everyone else. But the truth is, the best thing you can do for your creative work, your success, and your audience is simply to be yourself. Creative authenticity is the secret sauce that separates memorable artists from those who fade into the background noise.

Authenticity Over Originality

There’s a common misconception that being an artist means being completely original, conjuring something the world has never seen before. But here’s the reality: true originality is impossible. Everything is built on what came before. The trick is not to be original, but to be authentic.

Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch put it best when he said:

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic.”

Jarmusch isn’t telling you to plagiarize. He’s pointing out that creativity is a remix. The difference between authentic and inauthentic artists is that authentic artists steal what speaks to them and filter it through their unique perspective. Inauthentic artists copy without feeling or understanding.

Why Creative Authenticity Attracts an Audience

Many artists worry that if they don’t cater to the latest trends, they’ll never find success. Ironically, the opposite is often true. When you create from a place of deep personal truth, you resonate with others on a profound level. Audiences don’t connect with calculated branding; they connect with honesty, vulnerability, and passion.

Think about your favorite artists. Are they people who tried to fit a mold, or are they people who boldly expressed who they were, regardless of whether it was popular at the time? The artists who stand the test of time—David Bowie, Frida Kahlo, Patti Smith, Yayoi Kusama—built their legacies by being unapologetically themselves.

The Rewards of Authentic Creativity

Creating authentically is rewarding in ways that go beyond commercial success. Here’s why:

1. It Feels Better

Trying to create what you think people will like is exhausting. When you create from your authentic self, the process becomes more enjoyable, and your work has more depth and meaning.

2. It’s More Sustainable

If you build your creative practice around what’s trendy, you’ll constantly have to chase the next thing. If you build it around your true artistic voice, your work will remain relevant because it’s coming from something real.

3. It Leads to Better Work

When you create authentically, your work naturally stands out. It becomes a fusion of influences, experiences, and perspectives that only you can bring to the table. Audiences crave that kind of genuine expression.

How to Cultivate Authenticity in Your Art

If you’re struggling to create authentically, here are a few ways to tap into your true artistic voice:

• Follow Your Obsessions: Pay attention to what excites you, what you’re drawn to, and what you can’t stop thinking about. That’s where your real creative voice lives.
• Ignore the Algorithm: Trends come and go. Focus on making work that excites you, not what you think will get the most likes.
• Steal With Purpose: As Jarmusch said, take inspiration from what moves you, then transform it into something deeply personal.
• Embrace Imperfection: Don’t polish away what makes your work unique. The quirks and flaws are often what make art interesting.
• Trust the Process: The more you create, the more your true artistic voice will emerge. Keep going, and don’t be afraid to evolve.

In a Nutshell: Be Unapologetically You

Success as an artist isn’t about chasing originality or following trends. It’s about expressing yourself in a way that is raw, honest, and true to who you are. The more you embrace your authentic creative voice, the more your work will resonate with others. And in a world that’s drowning in sameness, that’s what truly stands out.

So go ahead—steal, create, and most importantly, be yourself. The world needs your art, not a watered-down version of someone else’s.